UE News and Notes for Dec. 12, 2012

—Thursday marks the 35th anniversary of the Dec. 13, 1977 UE team plane crash that killed 29 aboard in the program’s first Division I season. Look for a story to remember the occasion in Thursday’s paper.

—As a number of Missouri Valley Conference programs announce where they’ll be playing in “exempt” tournaments (now required by the league), UE is still searching. That and a few other scheduling notes highlight an Aces hoops notebook in Thursday’s paper.

—Sophomore Jordan Nelson, who didn’t dress last Saturday against Murray State, is still out with turf toe. Coaches hope Nelson can get back to practice before this weekend’s game versus Alabama State.

—Tickets to Arch Madness (March 7-10) go on sale Friday, the MVC announced today. A reason to go? Colt Ryan said this back in October: “We plan to be there three nights this year.”

—Creighton checks in as a three seed and Wichita State a seven in ESPN guru Joe Lunardi’s latest Bracketology. Other leagues outside the power six with multiple bids as of now: the Mountain West Conference and Atlantic 10, both with four.

—Creighton guard Josh Jones, after passing out prior to a recent Bluejays game, will under go a heart procedure that should keep him away from basketball for at least a month and maybe longer. Jones and Creighton coach Greg McDermott talked to the media about the condition today.